A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Sutherland, Robert
SUTHERLAND. (Lieutenant, 1802. f-p., 14; h-p., 38.)
Robert Sutherland was born 23 May, 1779.
This officer entered the Navy, in May, 1795, as Fst.-cl. Vol., on board the Impregnable 98, Capts. Andw. Mitchell and John Thomas, stationed in the Channel. In the course of the same month he attained the rating of Midshipman; and in Aug. 1796 he was transferred to the Greyhound 32, Capts. Jas. Young, Israel Pellew, Rich. Lee, Temple Hardy, and John Crawley. In that frigate, after cruizing for some time in the Channel, he sailed for the West Indies; where he removed, in Sept. 1799, to the Queen 98, bearing the flag of Sir Hyde Parker, and was nominated, 19 Oct. following, Acting-Lieutenant of the Meleager 32, Capts. Chas. Ogle, John Crawley, John Perkins, and Hon. Thos. Bladen Capel. By Capt. Ogle, Mr. Sutherland (who had been frequently employed on cutting-out expeditions, and had passed through scenes of great mortality) was several times, while on the coast of South America, sent on shore for the purpose of trading with the Indians for a supply of fresh provisions. On one of these occasions he was attacked, wounded in the head, and taken prisoner, with 9 of his men, by 100 Spanish soldiers, who had been sent expressly from Carthagena. At the end of a month he was exchanged and went back to the Meleager; in which ship he continued until wrecked on the North Triangle Rock, in the Gulf of Mexico, 9 June, 1801. Shortly after this catastrophe had occurred he was despatched in one boat, as was the Second-Lieutenant in another, to Vera Cruz for relief. The weather becoming bad, the two soon parted company. Mr. Sutherland, however, succeeded in reaching his destination; and after some difficulty induced a Spanish frigate to repair as a cartel to the assistance of his distressed shipmates. On arriving at the spot where the disaster had happened it was found, from a letter in a bottle, that they had been all picked up and carried to Jamaica by the Apollo frigate, Capt. Peter Halkett; who, from intelligence communicated by a fishing-boat previously spoken by Mr. Sutherland, had gone in search of the wreck. In the month of July, the Spanish frigate having fallen in with the Melampus 36, Capt. Graham Moore, Mr. Sutherland was received on board that ship. He joined next the Abergavenny 54, Capt. John Wentworth Loring; and in Oct. 1801 and Jan. 1802 he was nominated Acting-Master and Acting-Lieutenant of the Circe 32, Capt. Isaac Wolley, and Syren 32, Capt. J. W. Loring. On his return to England he was confirmed a Lieutenant, 22 Nov. 1802, into the Morgiana sloop, Capts. Robt. Raynsford and Wm. Landless. In her he served as First-Lieutenant in the Channel and Mediterranean until 17 Aug. 1807; and from 1 Feb. 1808 until he invalided home in Oct. 1809 on board the Excellent 74, he was employed on the station last mentioned, in a similar capacity, in the Éclair sloop, Capt. Chas. Kempthorne Quash. On the night of 22 May, 1807, he took command of the boats of the Morgiana, and, in company with those of the Scout, under Lieut. Battersby, he assisted in boarding and carrying, near Cape Trafalgar, the San Francisco Settaro alias La Determinada Spanish privateer, mounting 1 long 18-pounder in the bow, besides carriage-guns, swivels, and small arms, and manned with 29 men, who kept up a heavy fire until the very last. One man on this occasion was killed and another wounded; and Mr. Sutherland (whose steady and determined bravery obtained him the warmest thanks of Capt, Wm. Raitt of the Scout[1]) received a contusion. Since he left the Éclair he has been on half-pay.
- ↑ Vide Gaz. 1807, p. 960.